RANDOLPH -- An 11-year Randolph police lieutenant who teaches criminal justice at a college, manages his department's accreditation and serves on the state's accreditation commission was named Somerset's next police chief over an in-house captain and three Rhode Island finalists.

Three Somerset selectmen unanimously selected George McNeil Friday night at Somerset Middle School, but he was far from being the crowd's most popular pick. Signs hung on trees endorsing Somerset Capt. Stephen Moniz.

With upward of 100 people present, a majority clearly favoring Moniz, a cascade of profanities, threats and other vulgar messages greeted the selectmen's decision inside the auditorium and continued outside.

Somerset had not selected a new police chief from outside its own department for nearly 40 years — since the late William Reddy, a state trooper living in town, was made chief in 1976.

Selectman Scott Lebeau, who headed the chief's search committee, called McNeil "professional" and "highly qualified" and the one who "separated himself" to be Somerset's best chief.

McNeil joined the Randolph force in 1986. He had unsuccessfully sought the chief's job four years ago at a department with 59 sworn officers, almost twice the amount of officers in Somerset's department. During the same time period, he also applied for the chief's job in Stoughton.

McNeil, in a proposed flow chart, said his goal would be to eventually eliminate the two captain positions through attrition and boost the ranks of sergeants and detectives.

"A 30-person department doesn't need two captains," he said, pointing to Swansea and Norton as towns of similar size that have a police department structure he favors.

Instead of captains, there would be administrative and operations lieutenants and two sergeants on each shift. Also, K-9, mountain bike and marine units would be part of his proposed structure, said McNeil, who stated he's known Somerset by mooring a boat there for a decade.

"I have to understand the culture of the department," McNeil said of his first tasks after being hired from outside.

"I have to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the department," he said. "Then I'll begin to streamline the department."

"It's going to take a little bit to sink in," McNeil, 50, said, of being named chief. McNeil stood near his wife and his two youngest children while answering questions outside the school after the appointment. Moniz and dozens of Moniz's supporters stood nearby.

McNeil said he could empathize with them.

"Four years ago, I went for the chief's position in Randolph, and I didn't get it," McNeil said. "So I know what the disappointment is."

He also expressed his opinion about the crowd's behavior.

"I understand their disappointment," McNeil said. "But to be swearing, with children around, is improper and inappropriate."

Moniz quickly went over to shake McNeil's hand in the auditorium after the vote.

Page 2 of 2 - "I wish Chief McNeil the best of luck," Moniz said. "I will do everything I can to make it a smooth transition."

He also emphasized his 29 years as a town resident and serving the department "honorably and professionally," and said he'd continue to work as hard as he has for previous chiefs.

Moniz's wife, Charlene Moniz, stood next to him and said, "My husband's career has been exemplary."

"Sorry, Steve," said Joe Ferreira, the former Somerset police chief who retired in June and supported Moniz. "You'll have your day."

Selectmen Chairman Donald Setters, who has battled often with Ferreira during two years on the board, said before the vote he was looking for change.

"I believe that Lt. McNeil is the one that can bring the Somerset Police Department forward the way that I believe the people of Somerset want to see it done," he said.

Selectman David Berube, elected in May, likened the selection to deciding on a college for one's child. "You'd want the best college that's going to suit that person," he said. "My best candidate for Somerset is Lt. George McNeil."

The appointment is pending negotiations on a new contract. The salary range of $104,000 to $115,000.

Lebeau said Martins and McNeil were the top two choices of the screening committee. McNeil said he'd move to Somerset, Martins said no because of family ties.

During his interview Friday, McNeil identified reducing burglaries and vandalism, along with addressing domestic assaults, as the town's most prevalent crimes and what he'd focus most on in his first six months.

McNeil was a Randolph sergeant from 1994 to 2002 and lieutenant since 2003. He holds a master's degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College in 1990, bachelor's in animal science and technology from the University of Rhode Island and graduated first among 40 officers in 1987 from the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council.

He's taught criminal justice in Bridgewater State University's program since 2007 and hopes to continue.

On what attracted him to Somerset, McNeil, of Bridgewater, said, "I just thought that this was a beautiful community." His family includes a 21-year-old son in the Army, a 22-year-old daughter who graduated college with a criminal justice degree, and three step-children, two in middle school and a 19-year-old in the Marines.

If he can successfully negotiate a contract with town officials, McNeil said he hoped to become chief in mid-August.